5-25-10 Oconee County Political Chicanery – Special Interests Vs. Open Government

If the BOE tries to thwart the will of the voters by “messing up” the primary after qualifying ended, they are “playing dumb politics” and will expose themselves to more political grief……………… John’s “political sin” with some is that he voted with the majority for changing the powers of Chairman Melvin Davis. Margaret Hale is being opposed by the same crowd (Melvin group) for the same reason. Informed observers say this primary is all about Melvin Davis. He wants his power back and has encouraged opposition to Hale and Daniell to try to get back his ‘working majority’.

AVOC

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May 23, 2010

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Oconee County Political Chicanery – Special Interests Vs. Open Government

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By Wendell Dawson, Editor, AVOC, Inc

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For months, there has been much discussion about changing the Majority on the Oconee County Board of Education and possible attempts to help Melvin Davis get ‘His Power” back. Lee Becker (Oconee County Observations) has researched and written a very interesting and informative article relating to politics on the Board of Education and the possibility of Independent candidacy against Commissioner John Daniell in the July 2010 Primary. For background, Lee’s Article is well worth the time.

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By inviting the Primary Candidates to be considered for the Board Post 5 vacancy, the Board of Education is engaging in political chicanery that may well backfire and start recall efforts. The majority of the Board of Education has a lot of political baggage- particularly David Weeks, Mack Guest and Tom Breedlove.

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The Board of Education leadership rushed early in this term to increase their salaries and left voters with a bad taste. Their public debate and criticism of Oconee County’s State Representative added to their baggage. The end of the year purchase of land on U S 441 (involving a former member of the Board of Education) for $ 900,000 for Administrative offices did not help the majority’s reputation.

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Some longtime observers believe Guest will have a hard time surviving the Primary. Many citizens are waiting to try to defeat Chairman David Weeks in his next election. If the BOE tries to thwart the will of the voters and “messing up” the primary after qualifying ended, they are “playing dumb politics” and will expose themselves to more political grief.

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Mack Guest –Post 2

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JOHN DANIELL POSSIBLE OPPONENT – BOC

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For several weeks, there have been rumors that a politically active group would try to run an Independent against John Daniell. In some ways, this may be a good year for Independents in the country. However, many running are opposing spending and tax increases. Daniell has come across in two years as the most spending conscious member of the BOC.

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John’s “political sin” with some is that he voted with the majority for changing the powers of Chairman Melvin Davis. Margaret Hale is being opposed by the same crowd (Melvin group) for the same reason. Informed observers say this primary is all about Melvin Davis. He wants his power back and has encouraged opposition to Hale and Daniell to try to get back his ‘working majority’. To return to a Davis majority would be a bad mistake for Oconee County and its citizens. 7-30-09 Oconee County ‘reorganization’ is no big deal and is long overdue

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Opponents of Hale and Daniell will have support of a large part of the Rotary Club (which has Melvin Davis, David Weeks and Mack Guest as members), Chamber, Development Community and the Oconee Enterprise. Hale’s opponent, Tammy Gilland, is a member of the Rotary Club and is an officer and member of the Executive Committee of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce. The “Melvin group” opposed Commissioners Hale, Daniell and Horton in the 2008 county election but they all won anyway and by sizable majorities. 7-15-08 Oconee County BOC Election Results

While I do not always agree with the Commissioners on all issues, I do feel the County is well served by the present majority. The BOC activities are much more open than they were in the first two terms of Melvin Davis. We do not need to go back to that secrecy and behind the scenes operations.

Not Open To The Public.Voters in the July 20 primary could well be a little confused if the Oconee County Board of Education follows through with its proposed method for filling the vacancy left when Tom Breedlove resigned from the Board on May 10..At a specially called meeting on May 19, the BOE decided to invite the four candidates who have filed for Democratic and Republican primaries on July 20 to ask instead to be considered for the Post 5 position Breedlove vacated……….

Voters in the July 20 primary could well be a little confused if the Oconee County Board of Education follows through with its proposed method for filling the vacancy left when one member resigned earlier this month.